What age do you think you were most happy? Or maybe you feel it’s not come yet?

18 to 22, my sister agrees, we were both very happy together then.

I’ll be 70 tomorrow. I was happiest when I left school and went to uni where I fitted in for the first time in my life. There have been many happy times since then, of course, but that was my first realisation of true happiness.

I’ve just turned 66, so I’ve been celebrating my pay rise! (6 years late!?)
My best years were at primary school until age 9, when we moved house and I hated the new school. Then 2 wonderful years at the local Grammar school until it merged with the Sec Moderns and became a comprehensive. Downhill from there! -until I went to teacher training college at 18 - those 3 years were the best, apart from being at home in my 20s/30s with young children. Both great times, but for different reasons.
I’m now enjoying retirement and spending time with our grandson. It’s his first day at school today. ? I didn’t realise that all infants now get free school meals - that would have saved us a fortune in the 80s!

15- 20.Definitely.and im a long way off 67 so thats depressing?Did he say HOW they came to that conclusion, that its so late in life? Because i doubt its just because they no longer have to work, as that could mean less income and more austerity for a lot of folk.?

The three years I spent in Cambridge in the early sixties - life was fun, riding bikes everywhere, always interesting, meeting and working with fascinating people - such as Eric Idle, Robin Ellis, Clive Booth, Mike Pennington, and many more, it was exhilarating to be in the company of such gifted people and having no real responsibilities - also just emerging from the restrictive 50’s into Mary Quants mini skirts, tights, Straight natural hair, advent of the Beatles, the Seekers, Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, the Rolling Stones, the Animals etc etc - I feel very lucky to have been young in that decade - it was a blast.

I am 68 now, so I turned 67 during lock down. I couldn't say that it was my happiest year but it wasn't the worst either. I missed my family, as we couldn't get closer than talking to them from a distance in their garden. On the other hand, being with my DH in a little bubble wasn't bad.

When were you happiest? I thought about this the other day, when I was watching some daft thing about time travel. If you could go back to another age of your life, would you want to? I would certainly be happy to get rid of the aches and pains, particularly arthritis, that afflict me now. As you get older, you also have to face the fact that nobody lives forever and, sooner or later, one partner will lose the other. I wouldn't be sorry to be younger for that reason.

If I was in my 30s, my DM would still be here. On the other hand, none of my DGC would exist. If I could go back to being young and my DF was alive, I wouldn't have my DH because I hadn't met him then. I loved being a young mum with babies and then toddlers but my children's children have brought me great joy. How can you weigh up one age against another, to say which was the happiest time? I came to the conclusion that I wouldn't want to be able to go back to another time in my life. It is all swings and roundabouts - happier because of this, more miserable because of that.

If I could just choose a couple of days, rather than years, when I was happiest, that would be easy. The day after each of my babies was born, I was ecstatic. I wish I could relive, just briefly, the happiness of those two days

Definitely from twenty to thirty. After years of being too thin with long straight hair that refused to curl my looks were suddenly the rage! They were the days of David Bailey, Biba, (and the Pill!). I worked on an alternative newspaper, lived in Earls Court, stayed up all night, went straight to work in the morning and had the best time of my life.

48. First year of marriage to my perfect partner, my wonderful DH. 63 was hard, but lovely, looking after my two year old twin DGC while their mother was progressing her career.

I started a new job when I was thirty after being a stay at home mum.Life got better I never looked back and memories of those years are what get me through to days world.

I think my late 20s and early 30s (which was the 80s) were best. When my children were still children. I have liked being in my 50s too. 60s haven't been too bad except the last 3 years. I have 7 months left of my 60s. To be honest I've had good and bad periods in all the decades of my life.

SueDonim

I’ll be 67 in September (really??????) so I’m now looking forward to being in the prime of life!

I will too. This year's birthday should be enjoyable as there is going to be a big family gathering for a number of occasions all within the same couple of weeks - ex MiL's 90th birthday, granson's first birthday and baptism, my birthday and my DS's in-laws both have birthdays. Last year was a bit of a damp squib although I did go out for a drink with a couple of friends.

As for the best age, it's hard to say. There has been good and bad through most of my life but I think I'm more content in recent years. I'm generally quite optimistic and try to look on the bright side most of the time which I think makes for contentment more than happiness.

I think being 15, starting work and still obviously living at home with mum and dad and all my siblings. I worked a 40hr job and looked forward to Friday and Saturday night, out with my mates to the local disco, just having fun. Sunday was spent in bed until lunch was ready, then after that we all watched the Sunday afternoon film, baths and hairwashing then started with the youngest first. We all just lounged around in the evenings watching tv, the younger ones listened to pick of the pops then an early night to start the work the next day. I had no real responsibilites other than going to work, getting there on time and making sure i didnt spend all my money at the local boutique and that i kept enough back for bus fares to get to work. Oh how i would love to go back to those days, not a care in the world and my wonderful mum and dad and my youngest brother would still be alive.

To be or not to be …. a retiree?

Please may you share thoughts on retirement and how you have made decisions about when is a good time to finish being in employment?

Think I’ve posted this in the wrong place (sorry). I’m new to the site!

I’m 67 now. Are these happy times? Nope.

Maybe as the state pension age rises to 66, people will have a year paying off their debts and by age 67 they will be happy?
I turned 67 during lockdown so it wasn't an especially great time for me. I was happiest in the first year after I retired at 60, despite financial constraints. Work had become too stressful.

I have been happy most of my life but my most enjoyable time, due probably to being free from too much responsibility, was my teens. I had a lovely boyfriend from the age of 14, great mates at school, had enough pocket money to do what I wanted and spent all my free time on the back of a motorbike. What a life.

Anytime before the age of seven. At seven I was seriously ill, which cast a shadow over the rest of my childhood and teenage years.

From 20 onwards I was heathy and in command of my own life and happy most of the time. But adult life has its ups and downs, so I couldn't teally say that one age was better than another.

Being 67 was no different from being 65, 66 or 68, so I would really like to know why 67 should be special.

I dont think I have ever been really happy, a lot of very challenging things have happened almost continually throughout my life and I am defeated and exhausted? 67 is ten years away so if it gets better then thats something to look forward to ?

25! I'd just had my first DS. And I thought I was the happiest girl in the world with a lovely home fantastic handsome DH with good job, and the pièce de résistance-my beautiful new baby!!!
After that things just got from bad to worse.im 65 now and am disappointed every day-because I've yet again woken up.

I was happy at 67, but since then we've downsized to be nearer to family and I'm equally happy now. I was particularly happy in my 30s when my children were small, but I think you just have to decide to be happy, or at least content with your lot.
It would be a shame to think about a time in the past as a golden time, feeling that my life now is in some way worse. There's always something to look forward to, to plan, to dream about.
One of the unhappiest people I knew was my aunt, who was always disappointed with her life.

tictacnana

I’ll be 70 tomorrow. I was happiest when I left school and went to uni where I fitted in for the first time in my life. There have been many happy times since then, of course, but that was my first realisation of true happiness.

I felt exactly the same when I went to university @tictacnana and still have friends from that time. I was always the odd one out before that time and to some extent I still am, but have realised that is simply who I am. I've learnt to be happy in my own skin.

Drat it, I’ll be 68 tomorrow, so today is my last day as a 67 year old - I wish I’d known sooner this was my happiest year. ??

Actually I’m generally content, but I would say that my life has improved with each decade from my thirties onwards. As I approach my 70s I’m more aware that each moment is to be treasured and I ensure I spend as much time with my grandchildren as possible. I would like them to remember that they had a granny who loved them. I never really knew my paternal grandmother and my nana (mum’s mum) died when I was 19. I really hope I get to be around for another ten years so that the youngest has some memory of me.

I’d say from about 49 onwards for me. I’m 63 now. Four beautiful Grandchildren. a new partner on the scene and early retirement at 52.
Obviously a few ups and downs along the way but that’s just life.

I was 67 last year. So I really didn’t have the best year. I had a meniscus tear, high blood pressure issues, surgery with complications, flu, and shingles. All during a pandemic. I’ve definitely had better years.